[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 110 (Thursday, June 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30921-30925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12173]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Education Research and Special
Education Research Grant Programs
AGENCY: Institute of Education Sciences, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice
inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2022 for the
Education Research and Special Education Research Grant Programs,
Assistance Listing Numbers (ALNs) 84.305A, 84.305B, 84.305D, 84.305R,
84.305S, and 84.324X. This notice relates to the approved information
collection under OMB control number 4040-0001.
DATES: The dates when applications are available and the deadlines for
transmittal of applications invited under this notice are indicated in
the chart at the end of this notice and in the Requests for
Applications (RFAs) that are posted at the following websites: https://ies.ed.gov/funding, www.ed.gov/programs/edresearch/index.html, and
www.ed.gov/programs/specialedresearch/index.html.
ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an
application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to
Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the
Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768) and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The contact person associated with a
particular research competition is listed in the chart at the end of
this notice, as well as in the relevant RFA and application package.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: In awarding these grants, the Institute of
Education Sciences (IES) intends to provide national leadership in
expanding knowledge and understanding of (1) developmental and school
readiness outcomes for infants and toddlers with or at risk for a
disability, (2) education outcomes for all learners from early
childhood education through postsecondary and adult education, and (3)
employment and wage outcomes when relevant (such as for those engaged
in career and technical, postsecondary, or adult education). The IES
research grant programs are designed to provide interested individuals
and the general public with reliable and valid information about
education practices that support learning and improve academic
achievement and access to education opportunities for all learners.
These interested individuals include parents, educators, learners,
researchers, and policymakers. In carrying out its grant programs, IES
provides support for programs of research in areas of demonstrated
national need.
Competitions in This Notice: IES is announcing seven research
competitions through two of its centers:
The IES National Center for Education Research (NCER) is announcing
five competitions--one competition in each of the following areas:
Education research; education research training; systematic replication
in education; statistical and research methodology in education; and
using longitudinal data to support State education recovery
policymaking.
The IES National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) is
announcing two competitions for research to accelerate pandemic
recovery in special education.
NCER Competitions
The Education Research Competition. Under this competition, NCER
will consider only applications that address one of the following
topics:
Career and Technical Education.
Civics Education and Social Studies.
Cognition and Student Learning.
Early Learning Programs and Policies.
Effective Instruction.
English Learners.
Improving Education Systems.
Postsecondary and Adult Education.
Literacy.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Education.
Social and Behavioral Context for Academic Learning.
Note: While NCER is not now establishing a separate, stand-alone
topic area within the Education Research Grants competition inviting
research related to COVID-19 as authorized under the American Rescue
Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), we invite applications to the standing topics
listed above designed to accomplish this purpose. If you intend to
submit a project in one of the topic areas identified above that is
specifically intended to address COVID-19 learning loss, we ask that
you express or state this intention clearly in your proposal and on
item 4(b) of the SF424 Federal Application Assistance Form.
The Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences
Competition. Under this competition, NCER will consider only
applications that address one of the following topics:
Early Career Mentoring Program for Faculty at Minority-
Serving Institutions (MSIs).\1\
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\1\ To qualify as an MSI for the purpose of the Early Career
Mentoring Program, the institution must already have been certified
as an MSI and must be on one or more of the following lists:
Institutions on the Office of Postsecondary Education's
FY21 or FY20 lists of Title III and Title V eligible institutions
will be considered MSIs.
HBCUs listed on the Department's FY21 or FY20 lists of
Title III and Title V eligible institutions as meeting the criteria
of 34 CFR 608.2 will be considered MSIs.
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[[Page 30922]]
Postdoctoral Research Training Program in the Education
Sciences.
Methods Training for Education Researchers.
Research Grants Focused on Systematic Replication. Under this
competition, NCER will consider only applications that address
identifying what works for whom and under what conditions in education
through systematic replication.
Statistical and Research Methodology in Education. Under this
competition, NCER will consider only applications that address one of
the following topics:
Regular Grants to support the development of new and
improved methods, toolkits, guidelines, and syntheses.
Early Career Grants to support the development of new and
improved methods by early career researchers with the support of a
mentor or advisory panel.
Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Recovery
Policymaking. Under this competition, NCER will only consider
applications that address State agencies' use of their State's
education longitudinal data systems as they and local education
agencies reengage their students after the disruptions caused by COVID-
19.
NCSER Competitions
Research to Accelerate Pandemic Recovery in Special Education.
Under these competitions, NCSER will consider only applications that
directly address a pandemic-related problem, issue, program, policy, or
practice that is important to a State or local education agency, has
the potential to improve outcomes significantly and rapidly for
students with or at risk for disabilities, and will provide actionable
and timely results to districts and schools. NCSER will hold two
competitions.
NCSER will not hold any additional competitions in FY22. If funding
is available in FY 2022, the Director intends to use the grant slate
developed in FY 2021 for the Special Education Research Grants program
to make new awards to high-quality applications that remain on this
slate.
Exemption From Proposed Rulemaking: Under section 191 of the
Education Sciences Reform Act, 20 U.S.C. 9581, IES is not subject to
section 437(d) of the General Education Provisions Act, 20 U.S.C.
1232(d), and is therefore not required to offer interested parties the
opportunity to comment on priorities, selection criteria, definitions,
and requirements.
Program Authorities: 20 U.S.C. 9501 et seq. and the American Rescue
Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-2) Sec. 2010.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 77, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98,
and 99. In addition, the regulations in 34 CFR part 75 are applicable,
except for the provisions in 34 CFR 75.100, 75.101(b), 75.102, 75.103,
75.105, 75.109(a), 75.200, 75.201, 75.209, 75.210, 75.211, 75.217(a)-
(c), 75.219, 75.220, 75.221, 75.222, 75.230, and 75.708. (b) The Office
of Management and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide
Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR part 180, as adopted
and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3485. (c)
The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit
Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted and
amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR part 3474.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education only.
Note: The open licensing requirement in 2 CFR 3474.20 does not
apply for these competitions.
II. Award Information
Types of Awards: Discretionary grants and cooperative agreements.
Fiscal Information: These competitions will be supported with funds
appropriated through the ARP, as well as with regular appropriations
for IES programs. Note that ARP funds may only be used to support
activities that involve ``research related to addressing learning loss
caused by the coronavirus . . .'' Although Congress has not yet enacted
an appropriation for FY 2022, IES is inviting applications for these
competitions now so that applicants can have adequate time to prepare
their applications. The actual level of funding, if any, depends on
final congressional action. In addition, the level of available funding
may depend on IES provision of additional support for ongoing grants
that have been affected by COVID-19. IES may announce additional
competitions later in 2021.
Estimated Range of Awards: See chart at the end of this notice. The
size of the awards will depend on the scope of the projects proposed.
Estimated Number of Awards: The number of awards made under each
competition will depend on the quality of the applications received for
that competition and the availability of funds.
For all competitions, contingent on the availability of funds and
the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2023
from the list of highly-rated unfunded applications from the FY 2022
competitions.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: See chart at the end of this notice.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Applicants that have the ability and
capacity to conduct scientifically valid research are eligible to
apply. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, nonprofit
and for-profit organizations and public and private agencies and
institutions of higher education, such as colleges and universities.
For the Research Training in the Education Sciences grant program,
eligible applicants vary by program topic. For the Early Career
Mentoring Program, applicants must be a minority-serving institution.
For the Postdoctoral Research Training Program in the Education
Sciences, applicants must be academic institutions located in the
United States and its territories that confer doctoral degrees in
fields relevant to education. For the Methods Training for Education
Researchers program, applicants must be located in the territorial
United States and have the ability and capacity to conduct training in
scientific research methods. For the Using Longitudinal Data to Support
State Education Recovery Policymaking grant program, eligible
applicants must be the State agency responsible for the education
issue, program, or policy to be examined. Eligible State agencies
include the State education agency (SEA) responsible for the State's K-
12 sector as well as State agencies responsible for other specific
education sectors such as prekindergarten, career and technical
education, postsecondary education, and adult education. State agencies
may apply alone, or in conjunction with research organizations such as
universities and research firms, and/or with other appropriate
organizations (such as other State agencies or local education
agencies). The State agency must be the grantee and must provide the
Principal Investigator.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: These programs do not require cost
sharing or matching.
[[Page 30923]]
3. Subgrantees: Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a grantee under this
competition may award subgrants--to directly carry out project
activities described in its application--to the following types of
entities: Nonprofit and for-profit organizations and public and private
agencies and institutions of higher education. The grantee may award
subgrants to entities it has identified in an approved application.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Application Submission Instructions: Applicants are required to
follow the Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of
Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal
Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768) and available at
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf, which
contain requirements and information on how to submit an application.
2. Other Information: Information regarding program and application
requirements for the competitions will be contained in the currently
available IES Application Submission Guide and in the NCER and NCSER
RFAs, which will be available on or before June 30, 2021, on the IES
website at: https://ies.ed.gov/funding/. The dates on which the
application packages for these competitions will be available are
indicated in the chart at the end of this notice.
3. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application are contained in the RFA for
the specific competition. The forms that must be submitted are in the
application package for the specific competition.
4. Submission Dates and Times: The deadline date for transmittal of
applications for each competition is indicated in the chart at the end
of this notice and in the RFAs for the competitions.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
5. Intergovernmental Review: These competitions are not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
6. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: For all of its grant competitions, IES uses
selection criteria based on a peer review process that has been
approved by the National Board for Education Sciences. The Peer Review
Procedures for Grant Applications can be found on the IES website at
https://ies.ed.gov/director/sro/peer_review/application_review.asp.
For the 84.305A, 84.305D, 84.305R, and 84.324X competitions, peer
reviewers will be asked to evaluate the significance of the
application, the quality of the research plan, the qualifications and
experience of the personnel, the resources of the applicant to support
the proposed activities, and the quality of the dissemination history
and dissemination plan. These criteria will be described in greater
detail in the RFAs.
For the 84.305B competition, peer reviewers for the early career
mentoring program will be asked to evaluate the significance of the
application, the quality of the research training plan, the quality of
the career development plan, the qualifications and experience of the
personnel, the resources of the applicant to support the proposed
activities, and the quality of the dissemination history and plan. For
the 84.305B competition, peer reviewers for the postdoctoral training
programs will be asked to evaluate the significance of the application,
the quality of the research training plan, the qualifications and
experience of the personnel, and the resources of the applicant to
support the proposed activities. For the 84.305B competition, peer
reviewers for the methods training programs will be asked to evaluate
the significance of the application, the quality of the research
training plan, the qualifications and experience of the personnel, the
resources of the applicant to support the proposed activities, and the
quality of the dissemination history and plan. These criteria are
described in greater detail in the RFA.
For the 84.305S competition, peer reviewers will be asked to
evaluate the significance of the application, the quality of the
research plan, the applicability and availability of the data to be
analyzed, and the quality of the plans to disseminate and use the
findings in State decision-making. These criteria are described in
greater detail in the RFA.
For all IES competitions, applications must include budgets no
higher than the relevant maximum award as set out in the relevant RFA.
IES will not make an award exceeding the maximum award amount as set
out in the relevant RFA.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
IES may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past performance of
the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as the applicant's
use of funds, achievement of project objectives, compliance with the
IES policy regarding public access to research, and compliance with
grant conditions. IES may also consider whether the applicant failed to
submit a timely performance report or submitted a report of
unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, IES also requires
various assurances including those applicable to Federal civil rights
laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving
Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5,
106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Risk Assessment and Specific Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
200.206, before awarding grants under these competitions, the
Department conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2
CFR 200.208, IES may impose specific conditions and, under 2 CFR
3474.10, in appropriate circumstances, high-risk conditions on a grant
if the applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not
responsible.
4. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently
$250,000), under 2 CFR 200.206(a)(2) we must make a judgment about your
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal
awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before we make
an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about you that
is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred to as
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System
(FAPIIS)), accessible through the System for Award Management. You may
review and comment on any information about yourself that a Federal
agency previously entered and that is currently in FAPIIS.
Please note that, if the total value of your currently active
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements in 2
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain integrity
information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the requirements in 2
CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant
[[Page 30924]]
plus all the other Federal funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.
5. In General: In accordance with the Office of Management and
Budget's guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal
laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department will review and
consider applications for funding pursuant to this notice inviting
applications in accordance with:
(a) Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering
results based on the program objectives through an objective process of
evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR 200.205);
(b) Prohibiting the purchase of certain telecommunication and video
surveillance services or equipment in alignment with section 889 of the
National Defense Authorization Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232) (2 CFR
200.216);
(c) Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to
maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United
States (2 CFR 200.322); and
(d) Terminating agreements in whole or in part to the greatest
extent authorized by law if an award no longer effectuates the program
goals or agency priorities (2 CFR 200.340).
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally,
also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Grant Administration: Applicants should budget for an annual
meeting of up to three days for project directors to be held in
Washington, DC.
4. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under one of the
competitions announced in this notice, you must ensure that you have in
place the necessary processes and systems to comply with the reporting
requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the
competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR
170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by
IES. If you receive a multiyear award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by IES under 34 CFR
75.118. IES may also require more frequent performance reports under 34
CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
5. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its
education research and special education research grant programs, IES
annually assesses the percentage of projects that result in peer-
reviewed publications and the number of IES-supported interventions
with evidence of efficacy in improving learner education outcomes. In
addition, NCSER annually assesses the number of newly developed or
modified interventions with evidence of promise for improving learner
education outcomes. School readiness outcomes include pre-reading,
reading, pre-writing, early mathematics, early science, and social-
emotional skills that prepare young children for school. Student
academic outcomes include learning and achievement in academic content
areas, such as reading, writing, math, and science, as well as outcomes
that reflect students' successful progression through the education
system, such as course and grade completion; high school graduation;
and postsecondary enrollment, progress, and completion. Social and
behavioral competencies include social and emotional skills, attitudes,
and behaviors that are important to academic and post-academic success.
Additional education outcomes for students with or at risk of a
disability (as defined in the relevant RFA) include developmental
outcomes for infants and toddlers (birth to age three) pertaining to
cognitive, communicative, linguistic, social, emotional, adaptive,
functional, or physical development; and developmental and functional
outcomes that improve education outcomes, transition to employment,
independent living, and postsecondary education for students with
disabilities.
6. Continuation Awards: In making a continuation award under 34 CFR
75.253, IES considers, among other things: Whether a grantee has made
substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of the
project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application and budget; whether a grantee
is in compliance with the IES policy regarding public access to
research; and if IES has established performance measurement
requirements, whether the grantee has made substantial progress in
achieving the performance targets in the grantee's approved
application.
In making a continuation award, IES also considers whether the
grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved
application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving
Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5,
106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Other Information
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, Individuals with disabilities can
obtain this document and a copy of the RFA in an accessible format. The
Department will provide the requestor with an accessible format that
may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive,
an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other
accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published
in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at
the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Mark Schneider,
Director, Institute of Education Sciences.
[[Page 30925]]
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Application Deadline for
ALN and name package transmittal of Estimated range of awards * Project period For further
available applications information contact
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National Center for Education Research (NCER)
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84.305A Education Research 6/30/21 9/9/21 $100,000 to $760,000............... Up to 5 years............ Helyn Kim,
[email protected].
[ssquf] Career and Technical
Education
[ssquf] Civics Education and
Social Studies.
[ssquf] Cognition and Student
Learning.
[ssquf] Early Learning
Programs and Policies.
[ssquf] Effective Instruction
[ssquf] English Learners.....
[ssquf] Improving Education
Systems.
[ssquf] Postsecondary and
Adult Education.
[ssquf] Literacy.............
[ssquf] Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics
Education.
[ssquf] Social and Behavioral
Context for Academic
Learning.
84.305B Research Training 6/30/21 9/9/21 $100,000 to $312,000............... Up to 5 years............ Katina Stapleton,
Programs in the Education Katina.Stapleton@ed
Sciences .gov.
[ssquf] Early Career
Mentoring Program for MSI
Faculty.
[ssquf] Postdoctoral Research
Training Program in the
Education Sciences.
[ssquf] Methods Training for
Education Researchers.
84.305D Statistical and Research 6/15/21 8/12/21 $40,000 to $300,000................ Up to 3 years............ Phill Gagne,
Methodology in Education [email protected].
[ssquf] Regular
[ssquf] Early Career.........
84.305R Research Grants Focused 6/30/21 9/9/21 $400,000 to $900,000............... Up to 5 years............ Christina Chhin,
on Systematic Replication. [email protected].
84.305S Using Longitudinal Data 6/15/21 8/12/21 $40,000 to $333,000................ Up to 3 years............ Allen Ruby,
to Support State Education [email protected].
Recovery Policymaking.
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National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER)
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84.324X-1 Research to Accelerate 6/15/21 8/2/21 $500,000 to $1,000,000............. Up to 4 years............ Katherine Taylor,
Pandemic Recovery in Special Katherine.Taylor@ed
Education. .gov.
84.324X-2 Research to Accelerate 6/15/21 9/9/21 $500,000 to $750,000............... Up to 4 years............ Katherine Taylor,
Pandemic Recovery in Special Katherine.Taylor@ed
Education. .gov.
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* These estimates are annual amounts.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Note: If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
[FR Doc. 2021-12173 Filed 6-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P